Millionaire mayoress leaves daughters $4.50

A former Adelaide mayoress left her daughters just $1.50 each from her $3.5 million estate because she believed they plotted to kill her mother.

Valmai Roche died last year aged 81 and stated in her will that her daughter's should be left "30 pieces of silver of the lowest denomination" — or 30 five cent pieces, the Adelaide Advertiser reports.

Daughters Deborah Hamilton, Fiona Roche and Shauna Roche were also left jewellery from Ms Roche's collection on condition they correctly answered questions relating to their mother's personal diaries.

Two of the daughters are challenging the will in the South Australian Supreme Court, claiming Ms Roche was "delusional".

Ms Roche's mother Dorothy Maude Haber was being cared for in a nursing home. Court documents do not reveal how or when she died.

Ms Roche also left "30 pieces of silver" for her ex-husband John Roche, who was Adelaide City Council Lord Mayor from 1975 to 1977.

The daughters were excluded from any further benefits because they were cared for and because of their estrangement in later years.

The only change Ms Roche made to the will was in 1987 when she stated daughter Fiona could have a French Empire style desk.

The rest of her estate has been left to Catholic chairty Knights of the Southern Cross.